Comments on: Know when to walk away, know when to run…

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:29:38 +0000

I’ve made way too many mistakes in my life to voluntarily and knowingly walk into something that has BAD written all over it!

I wish my real estate agent had had the guts to tell me not to buy the house I have now [where a renovator guy is head down in my shower as I write with tiles pulled away from the dry wall showing me that the $300 tile regrouting job has turned into a $2000 tear the whole thing out and start all over again job arggg!].

So, yeah, I vote with the class — when an agent says “RUN” — I’m laced up, head-down and tail-up in the starting block ready to sprint away.

By: Dave Sosnowski

Dave Sosnowski — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:09:00 +0000

I supposed it would really depend on the specifics and if I thought I understood them, but as a general matter, I agree with most of the folks here: why have an agent if you’re not going to listen to their professional advice. I do understand being desperate to be published at any cost, however — another good reason to have an agent, who can be level-headed when I’m not.

By: Nadia Lee

Nadia Lee — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:08:06 +0000

Even if I were in desperate financial straits, I’d walk and get a day job. I don’t see why I should accept crappy offers.

By: ryan field

ryan field — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:46:16 +0000

Probably listen and take the advice…cuz I’ve already made many of those mistakes.

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:27:39 +0000

Exactly. If I sign with someone, it will be because I’ve investigated and decided that they’re credible and good at what they do, and more knowledgeable than I. (If they’re not, I won’t sign, or if I’m already signed, I’ll begin exploring my options.) If they advise me against something, I will consider it with care and probably agree with their assessment. Why have them if I’m not going to listen?

By: Meredith Gilley

Meredith Gilley — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:43:26 +0000

I look at it this way, as a writer, though I know a little about the publishing industry, I do not know enough to negotiate my own deals, or to know with 100% certainty that a deal is a good one. With that being said, if my agent (that is, if I could get one — haha) advised me against taking a deal and had good reasons for doing so, then I would take their advice:-)

By: Catherine Whitney

Catherine Whitney — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:07:10 +0000

I have in the past considered turning over my first born to a publishing company, but he balked at the long hours and low pay. In general, I am terrible at sticking up for myself, so it’s nice to have someone else tearing out their unruly hair on my behalf.

By: Gina Black

Gina Black — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:48:11 +0000

I would walk. Why have an agent if I’m not going to heed their advice? I would want to discuss it, of course.

By: Kathi Taylor

Kathi Taylor — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:33:29 +0000

Yes.

Though I do remember wanting to go with a really teeny and ridiculous movie deal that you advised against, just because it was… well, you know… a movie deal. Luckily, nothing came of it, so I got the fun of saying that I had a movie offer and you didn’t have to tear your hair out over my silliness.